Subaru, Suzuki Initiate Recalls, Likely Toyota Recall Coming
The month of July is barely upon us and already two car companies have initiated recalls on very recent automobiles.
Subaru Recall
Leading off is Subaru, which has been forced to call back a staggering 70,000 vehicles. Specifically, the cars involved in the corrective action include 2010 Subaru Legacy and 2010 Subaru Outback models which feature a defective electrical connection in the steering column.
An electrical cable in the steering column which is charged with linking steering wheel features such as stereo controls, the horn and the vehicle's paddle shifters has displayed a tendency to break due to the constant motion of the steering wheel itself. Most alarming is the fact that this cable is also responsible for the proper functioning of the Legacy and Outback airbag systems.
According to Subaru the company became aware of the issue as a result of testing by Subaru personnel - not through any real-world accidents where an airbag failed to deploy. The problem could be visible to drivers as an illuminated airbag light, which indicates that the secondary restraint system is not currently functioning and requires immediate attention. Subaru claims that the problem can be fixed with an hour-long trip to the service bay.
Suzuki Recall
Suzuki is also involved in a safety-related recall, although one that seems less dramatic than Subaru's airbag issue. The all-new 2010 Suzuki Kizashi sedan, which is the brand's luxury flagship, has been discovered to have a faulty glove box panel that can spring open in an accident and potentially cut or impact against the passenger sitting in the front right seat. Suzuki has recalled 5,100 Kizashi models worldwide - including all 2,000 that have been sold in the United States - in order to replace the offending glove box panel.
Potential Toyota Recall
Although no official announcement has been made, it would seem that yet another Toyota recall is approaching on the horizon. An issue affecting V-8 and V-6 motors installed in its Lexus line of luxury cars is being examined by the company in an effort to see if a design change could help prevent a rash of engine failures that have been reported. The problem relates to defective valve springs which first manifest as a rough idle prior to taking down the engine completely.
The recall would affect as many as 270,000 automobiles around the world and would add yet another headline to Toyota's growing collection of safety and reliability-related gaffes over the past 12 months. The automaker is currently investigating the issue, and is in touch with federal regulators in order to determine what course of action would be most appropriate to take care of the problem.